Paris Masters Advance

Written by: Staff on 29th October 2012

Paris Masters Advance

epa03424256 Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning a point against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France during their final match at the China Open in Beijing, China, 06 October 2012. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG |

Roger Federer news ruled the day, but still the biggest question in men’s tennis on this day remains: Who will take the last two coveted spots in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

The answer will be known in several days time. One thousand massive ranking points are staring several of the pursuers right in the face. Will it be Tsonga? Or Tipsarevic? Or perhaps Gasquet? Or maybe Almagro? Who will sneak into play among the Elite Eight next week?

The Paris Masters title has been won by Tomas Berydch, Nikolay Davydenko, David Nalbandian and Robin Soderling in past years and NOT yet by Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray, or before last year, Federer.

So the pick here is not a top five player, but someone who needs the win the most. Of course Murray skipped Basel to rest of for Paris and this has been Murray’s year to win the one he hasn’t before (see Olympics and US Open).

Novak Djokovic is locked in a battle for the year-end World No. 1 spot with Federer so you know he’s going to give it all he’s got in Paris in hopes of winning it for a second time as he beat Gael Monfils in the 2009 final.

Interesting first-day matchups in Paris on Monday include Marcos Baghdatis against home country favorite Gilles Simon with Baghdatis holding a 2-1 career head-to-head advantage.

The U.S. doubles pairing of John Isner and Sam Querrey gets into action on Monday, as well, as they face the always tough British pairing of Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins.

Monday’s scheduled order of play:

CENTER COURT

Martin Klizan (SVK) vs. Andreas Seppi (ITA)

Kevin Anderson (RSA) vs. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)

Viktor Troicki (SRB) vs. Julien Benneteau (FRA)

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) vs. Gilles Simon (FRA)

Pablo Andujar (ESP) vs. [WC] Benoit Paire (FRA)

COURT 1

Carlos Berlocq (ARG) vs. Denis Istomin (UZB)

Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) vs. [Q] Jerzy Janowicz (POL)

Florian Mayer (GER) vs. [Q] Alejandro Falla (COL)

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) vs. Marcel Granollers (ESP)